The last thing you want when you’re on vacation is to get sick! Most people don’t get to take that much time off of work, so when you do get to go on that dream trip you’ll want to make the most of it, and not have to spend the entire time tucked up in bed feverish and sneezing.
The best thing you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick is to take steps to minimize the spread of bacteria and germs.
Good hygiene
Washing your hands regularly is a must if you want to keep bacteria at bay. If you get any germs on your hands and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, the germs may then enter your body where they may make you ill.
You should always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, for at least 20 seconds often throughout the day and definitely before you eat, after you go to the bathroom and after you sneeze or cough.
Hand sanitizer
For those times when washing your hands isn’t convenient, hand sanitizer does a great job of keeping a lot of germs at bay, provided that it is at least 60% alcohol. When you’re traveling take a bottle of hand sanitizer with you, or make use of one of the touch free sanitizers provided by Touch Free Sanitisers. Be careful when using hand sanitizer dispensers with a pump or lever, as sometimes bacteria can linger on the dispenser.
Anti-bacterial wipes are your friend
If you’re traveling by plane or by train, then be sure to bring a packet of anti-bacterial wipes with you. You can then use them to wipe down any tray tables or armrests that may have been used by other passengers.
Distance
A lot of germs are airborne and spread by coughing, sneezing or even in the droplets of water in our breath. The best defense against these airborne germs is to ensure that there is a good amount of distance between yourself and other passengers - two meters is a good rule.
Bring your own blankets and pillows
If you are traveling by plane you will often be offered a blanket and pillows so that you can have an in-flight nap. While napping is lovely, if the pillow and blanket don’t come wrapped up in plastic, then it’s probably better not to take them. A single pillow can be home to up to 350,000 potentially live bacteria colonies, and as you have no idea of knowing what strains of bacteria the person who used the pillow before you may have used you are better off not sharing them!
If you can, bring your own blankets and pillows so that you can snuggle down. You may even find that children who are unsure of traveling find having their own blankets and pillows to be a comfort.
Avoid touching restroom surfaces
Restrooms on planes and trains are used by hundreds of people every day. No matter how often they are cleaned, then chances are there are going to be some bacteria on the surfaces! If you’re using the bathroom on a plane or train use a paper towel to flush the toilet and turn on the faucet and ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly once you have finished.
